diff --git a/templates/wger/docker-compose.yml b/templates/wger/docker-compose.yml
index f02c78f..3933676 100644
--- a/templates/wger/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/templates/wger/docker-compose.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ services:
       # https Origin with "CSRF verification failed" — nobody could sign in from a browser.
       - CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS=https://${SUBDOMAIN}.${DOMAIN}
       - X_FORWARDED_PROTO_HEADER_SET=True
+      # R-738: the image runs `manage.py migrate` at start ONLY with this switch (entrypoint.sh). Without it an update
+      # that brings migrations leaves wger serving its front page over an unmigrated database (login 500).
+      - DJANGO_PERFORM_MIGRATIONS=True
       - DJANGO_DB_ENGINE=django.db.backends.sqlite3
       - DJANGO_DB_DATABASE=/home/wger/db/database.sqlite
       - DJANGO_DB_USER=wger